The Catherine Gate (in German Katharinentor, in Hungarian Katalin-kapu) was one of the fortification gates of Brasov, located in the middle of the south-west side, between the Bastion of the Weavers and the Bastion of the Blacksmiths. As part of the south-west wall of the city’s fortifications, the Catherine Gate is declared a historical monument.
The gate provided passage through the double wall of the fortress and was, for almost three centuries, the city’s only gate to the Schei. Today only the tower of the outer gate remains. In reality, Catherine’s Gate, like the gates of the north-eastern wall of the fortress (Main Gate, Old Customs Gate, Black Street Gate), were each a large complex of fortifications, real fortresses with bastions and towers.
The gate of the south-west wall of the fortress was probably built in the 15th century, when the walls were erected, but was first mentioned in documents only in 1517, as the “Gate of the Holy Spirit” (“Porta Corporis Christi”). The name came from the Chapel of the Holy Spirit (Corpus Christi), which was located near the Orphanage Street (today’s Poarta Schei Street).
The gate, defended by the tailors’ guild, was destroyed in the storm and flood of 24 August 1526, after which construction of the new gate began. Located at the end of Catherine Street, which in turn took its name from the convent of nuns that had once stood there, the gate was given the name ‘Catherine Gate’ (‘Porta Sanctae Katherinae’, as it appears in documents of the time). It was also called ‘Porta Superior’ because of its location on the mountain towards the Shei, called by the Saxons ‘Obere Vorstadt’ (the upper quarter). The construction of the outer gate tower was completed on 17 September 1559. The gate was damaged by fires in 1689 and 1759, as well as by the earthquake of 1738, and was later repaired.
In the 19th century, the first plans for the city were drawn up, which involved urban development towards the suburbs. To this end, part of the medieval fortifications of the Citadel on the north-east and south-west sides were demolished in stages. The Catherine Gate, with the exception of the outer gate tower, was demolished in 1827. The tower was converted into a storehouse and its opening was walled up. On both sides of the gate tower, in place of the demolished walls, public buildings (primary school, kindergarten and the Saxon girls’ gymnasium) were erected.
